Blessed To Increase

Blessed To Increase

Gen. 1:28; 26:1-4, 12-14; Ps. 115:12-16.

Bishop David Ibeleme

We were created by God to increase or grow.

 We are living organisms and one the features of every living organism is growth.

 If it’s alive then it should grow.

 If it’s not growing it must be dead or it is dying.

 We’ve been given eternal or everlasting life, so God expects us to grow.

 He has put things in place to ensure that we grow / increase.

 The ingredient for growth or increase is part of our spiritual DNA – Ps. 92:12.

 Jesus said “I have ordained you to bring forth fruit” – Jn. 15:15-16.

To Ordain = Tithemi (Grk); to place, to position, to appoint, to set forth, to purpose and to settle.

“I am Blessed” is not just a cliché.

 This ingredient for growth is called the Blessing of God – Eph. 1:3.

 Many have “commonised” the blessing not realizing that it is the key to making it on planet earth – Gen. 1:26-28.

 To be “Blessed” is simply being “Empowered to Succeed”.

 This means you cannot succeed as God’s child without being blessed.

 God taught Israel the power of the blessing.

 It governed Abraham’s life – Gen. 12:1-3.

 He passed this on to his son Isaac – Gen. 26:1-3.

 This concept was then passed to the generations that followed.

 No Child of the nation was ever “released” without being blessed.

 No King and no Priest ever took office in Israel without being blessed.

 Israel would do absolutely nothing unless they were assured of the blessing of God.

 Not only has God included the blessing as part of our spiritual DNA, He has also committed Himself to bless us continuously.

 This is because He is ever mindful (His mind is full) of us – Ps. 115:12.

Three (3) Dimensions of Growth or Increase.

1. Spiritual growth – with respect to our lives / character – Jn. 15:1-3.

 It covers our maturity in Christ and bearing the fruit of the spirit – Gal. 5:22ff.

 We will attend to this in greater detail at a later date.

2. Increase in Goods; this is growth or increase with respect returns on our investments – Gen. 26:12-14; Mk. 10:29-31.

 This guarantees us that the law of sowing and reaping will work on our behalf – Mk. 4:1-20; Gen. 8:20-22; Ecc. 11:1-6.

 We are guaranteed returns on our investments, be they spiritual or secular.

 Increase and multiplication are promised to us as we obey the laws of sowing and reaping – 2 Cor. 9:6-10; Prov. 3:9; 11:24-25.

3. Church growth; this covers returns on our evangelistic efforts – Jn. 15:15-16.

 The Church is a living organism and has been ordained by God to grow or increase continuously – Acts 2:41, 47; 4:4; 5:14; 6:1, 7.

 This was evidenced in the early church as shown by the scriptures above.

 Any local church that is not growing will eventually “die”.

 Believers that are not actively involved in evangelism will be weak spiritually.

Cherish Your Role – Eph. 4:15-16.

 You were designed by God to bear fruit – Jn. 15:1-8, 15-16.

 Your personal growth is tied to how take part in personal evangelism.

 Evangelism helps us maintain our attitude of compassion – Jn. 15.

 If you are actively involved in Evangelism you will walk in love.

 You won’t have time for gossip and strife.

 It will help you nurture others – what you teach you eventually retain.

 Evangelism also helps you to stay purged – Jn. 15:2-5.

 Once you are bearing fruit God will take on the job of dealing with the flaws in your life which you cannot deal with on your own – Jn. 15:1-3.

Stay Connected – Jn. 15:1-4.

 You cannot backslide whilst you’re actively involved in evangelism.

 However you cannot evangelize unless you abide in the vine.

 To flourish and grow you must stay connected – Ps. 92:13-14.

Copyright © 2008 by Rev. Dr. David Ibeleme

Victorious Faith Ministries, P.O. Box 4378, St. Ann’s, Trinidad. W.I.

(868) 625-6863 / 625-1449 / 623-1020 (fax)

E-mail : vfmwo@hotmail.com; davidibeleme@hotmail.com

Website : vfmwo.org